Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Importance of Mahe Rajab

Introduction “Rajab a Gift to the Muslim Ummah.”

The Month of Rajab ulMurajjab is 7th month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month of worship prayers supplications, offering sacrifice and for umarah and Ziyarat e Qoboor e Aimma e Masoomeen (as). Great rewards and special emphasis has been laid in such acts of worship in this month as it appears in the Ahadith of Aimma (as). Much stress is laid upon fasting and umrah in this holy months. In the various books of Ziyarat, great rewards have been mentioned for visiting the graves of holy Aimmas (as) and Holy prophet (saw) in this month.
Allah (swt) has given us this month to excel in our worships,  obedience and seeking forgiveness. Hence, ee must utilize this month to the maximum possible extent to reap benefit and grace of Allah (swt).
وَ بِسَنَدٍ مُعْتَبَرٍ عَنِ الْإِمَامِ جَعْفَرٍ الصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ‏ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَعْطَى هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَشْهُرٍ لَمْ يُعْطِهَا الْأُمَمَ الْأُخْرَى: رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ رَمَضَانَ، …..
From Imam JafarAsSadiq (as):“Surely Allah (swt) gave this nation three such months which he didn’t bestowed on other nations:Rajab,Shaban and MaheRamzaan….”[1]

Why it is called “Rajab”?
As we see in Majmaul bayan the meaning of رجب  asالتَّرْجِيبُ‏: التعظيم ‏ which means Glorifications, exaltation. Similar meaning can be seen in Lisanol Arab a famous lughat which says
ورَجَبٌ: شهرسموهبذلكلتعظيمهمإِيَّاهفيالجاهليةعنالقتالِفيه،ولايَسْتَحِلُّونالقتالَفيه‏
Rajab is a month named so because it was respected in the era of jahilliya and bloodshed was considered unlawful.
We find in the traditions that this name Rajab is taken from a river of Paradise.

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ:رَجَبٌ‏ نَهَرٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَشَدُّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ اللَّبَنِ وَ أَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْماً مِنْ رَجَبٍ‏ سَقَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ النَّهَرِ.
And relates from Abil Hasan Musa (as) the He (as) says : “Rajab is the river of Paradise whiter than milk sweeter than honey and whoever fasts on any day of Rajab Allah (swt) will make him drink from that river.[2]

Rajab a Month of Worship and Obedience to Allah (swt).

Salat
Many Salats have been recommended in this month. One such noteworthy salat is the salat taught by Holy Prophet (saw) to Hazrat Salaman Muhammadi (ra), which has great rewards and consists of 30 rakats which has to recited thrice in a 10 rakats on 1st, 15th and last date of Rajab. The types and method of Salat are so many that it is not wise to mention it all here. Readers can refer Mafateehul Jinaan or Zaadol Maad and books on supplications. Details description has been given in it.

Fasting.
Here, we would like to bring some traditions which shows us the great reward of fasting in this month. Allah (swt) has opened the gates of his mercy of the fasting one, has forgiven him and his parents and relatives friends and neighbors. Such great benefits, has been narrated in the traditions which motivate us to fast in the month of Rajab.
وَ رَوَى سَمَاعَةُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ صَامَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ رَجَبٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ يَوْمٍ صِيَامَ سَنَةٍ وَ مَنْ صَامَ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْهُ فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَنْ صَامَ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً حَاسَبَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‏ حِساباً يَسِيراً وَ مَنْ صَامَ رَجَبَ [رَجَباً] كُلَّهُ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ رِضْوَانَهُ وَ مَنْ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ رِضْوَانَهُ لَمْ يُعَذِّبْهُ.
Samaat ibn Mehran narrates from AbiAbdillah (as) who narrates from Rasool Allah (swt):                             “ Whoever fast for three days from Rajab Allah (swt) writes for him the fast for the whole year and whoever fast for eight days from it Doors of Jannat are opened for him and whoever fasts for fifteen days Allah (swt) will account him “ Easy Accounting” and whoever fasts in the whole of Rajab Allah (swt) writes  for him His Pleasure (Rizwaan) and for the one Allah (swt) writes His Pleasure He (swt) does not punishes him.[3]

Another tradition is mentioned here which shows the endless the mercy and bounties showered on the one who fasts in Rajab.
فِي أَمَالِي الشَّيْخِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ بَابَوَيْهِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع قَالَ: مَنْ صَامَ أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ مِنْ رَجَبٍ رَغْبَةً فِي ثَوَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْماً فِي وَسَطِهِ شُفِّعَ فِي مِثْلِ رَبِيعَةَ وَ مُضَرَ وَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْماً فِي آخِرِهِ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ مُلُوكِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ شُفِّعَ فِي أَبِيهِ وَ أُمِّهِ وَ ابْنِهِ وَ ابْنَتِهِ وَ أَخِيهِ وَ أُخْتِهِ وَ عَمِّهِ وَ عَمَّتِهِ وَ خَالِهِ وَ خَالَتِهِ وَ مَعَارِفِهِ وَ جِيرَانِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْهُمْ [فِيهِمْ‏] مُسْتَوْجِبٌ لِلنَّارِ.
From the Amali of Shaikh Abi Jafar Babewiyah (ra) , Narrated to us Mohammed ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq from Ahmad ibn Mohammed Al Koofi from Ali ibn Hussain from Ali ibn Fazzal from his father who narrates from Abil Hasan Ali ibn MoosaAr – Redha (as) that He (as) says : “ Whoever fasts on first day from Rajab with the intention for the reward from Allah (swt) Paradise is made obligatory for him , and whoever fasts on the middle of Rajab he is intercedes as in “rabiya” and “mudhar”  and whoever fasts in the last of Rajab Allah (swt) will give him from the kingdom of paradise and he is intercedesfor his father and his mother and his sons and his daughters and his brothers and his sisters and his paternal uncle and his paternal Aunt and his maternal uncle and his maternal aunt and his acquaintance his neighbors even if they deserved to be in Hell.[4]

Umarah and Ziyarat e Qoboor Aimma (as).
The Days of Rajab are the best period for visitation of the grave of Hazrat Imam Hussain (as). Numerous tradition have been mentioned in this regards. For the sake of brevity we bring a tradition for this great act of worship.
بِسَنَدٍ صَحِيحٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ الْإِمَامَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فِي أَيِّ الْأَوْقَاتِ أَفْضَلُ أَنْ يَزُورَ الْإِمَامَ الْحُسَيْنَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ؟ فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فِي النِّصْفِ مِنْ رَجَبٍ وَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَان‏
With the Authentic chain of narrations from AbiBasir (ra) that he asked Imam Ali Reza (as):“Which is the best time to visit (the grave of) Imam Hussain (as)? Then He (as) Between 15th of Rajab to 15th of Shaban.[5]
And Umarah of Rajab is considered as superior to umrah done in other months. Various tafasir of quran is a witness to it.
944/- ابن بابويه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد (رضي الله عنه)، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن العباس بن معروف، عن علي بن مهزيار، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن ابن أبي عمير، و حماد، و صفوان بن يحيى، و فضالة بن أيوب، عن معاوية بن عمار، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «العمرة واجبة على الخلق بمنزلة الحج، من استطاع، لأن الله عز و جل يقول: وَ أَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَ الْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ‏ و إنما نزلت العمرة بالمدينة، و أفضل العمرة عمرة رجب‏».
Narrated from AbiAbdillah (as):“Visiting is wajib upon the creatures in the place of hajj whoever has the capacity to do it because Allah (swt) said in Quran: “وَ أَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَ الْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ[6]Surely Umrah was revealed in madina and the best of the Umrah is the Umrah of Rajab.[7]

Rajab a month for seeking repentance “"استغفار
Along with worship and obedience this great month is also a great opportunity for seeking forgiveness of our past sins. Numerous traditions are a witness to it that Allah (swt) is ready to forgive those who seek forgiveness.
One such traditions says that He (swt) orders His (swt) angels to erase the sins of the believers.
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ الرَّسُولِ الْكَرِيمِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ‏ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَأْمُرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ رَجَبٍ مَلَائِكَتَهُ أَنْ تَمْحُوَ الذُّنُوبَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ فِي صُحُفِ أَعْمَالِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.
And it is narrated from Holy Prophet (saw): “Surely Allah (swt) orders His Angels in the night of fifteenth of Rajab to erase the sins written in the scroll deeds of the believers.[8]

A Reminder.
Lastly since we have realized that this month a great opportunity to get our wishes fulfilled sins forgiven and prayers being accepted so lets pray excessively for the Zohoor of Hazrat e Wali e Asr (as) so that this earth can again become the cradle of peace security and justice equity and the Universal statehood of Hazrat e Wali Asr (as) is established.



[1]ZaadolMaad quoting from MisbaholMujtahid page number 567 Arabic.
[2]TahzeebolAhkamVol 4 page 302 arabic version (noor 3.5 copy)
[3]Ref: JameulAkhbar page 82 (noor soft copy).

[4] Ref: JameulAkhbar page 82 (noor soft copy).

[5]ZaadolMaad (noor soft copy).

[6]Surah Baqrah 2:196. And accomplish the pilgrimage and the visit for Allah…

[7]Tafsir e Burhan chapter of Umrah of Rajab (noor soft copy).

[8]ZaadolMaad page 25 soft copy.
10 Duas.org quoting from English translation of ManazelulAkherah by Sheikh Abbas Qummi.

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